Butcher&#39;s accessory



June 19, 1956 BLOCH BUTCHERS ACCESSORY Filed Nov. 2, 1955 f R 4. MR w m a. C HWE 4. 0M E 5 ON ME EHO 0 V v T d. 0 N 67 I T R A S E L 5 w MM 0 m. w H W W MU 6 M B M 6 W Q a. n

I l 60 3a 14 BUTCHERS ACCESSORY Ernest Bloch, Los Angeles, Calif.- Application November 2,- 1953, Serial No. 389,633 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-4) The application relates to butchers accessories and in particular consists of a butcher block cleaner or scraper of such design and construction that it is adapted to have used with it a butchers grinding wheel for sharpening knives.

Although a considerable variety of scrapers have been devised and patented for cleaning off butchers blocks, all of them include some means for maintaining the scraper wheel or wire brush elevated above the surface to be cleaned, thereby necessitating the exertion of pressure manually to force the brush against the surface. Structures of this kind not only are diflicult to manipulate but contain an excessive number of parts.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved butcher block cleaning device which is particularly easy to manipulate and to adjust against the surface to be cleaned while the device is in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved butcher block cleaning device so constructed and balanced that it can be manipulated by one hand only on occasions as well as by two hands should an occasion of that kind necessitate a more steady and prolonged cleaning operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved butcher block cleaning device wherein the weight of the device itself is used to press the brush against the surface to be cleaned but with the device so balanced that the weight can be easily shifted to lighten the application of pressure of brush on the surface or, if need be, to remove it entirely.

Another object still of the invention is to provide a new and improved butcher block cleaning device so simply constructed that it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture while at the same time the device is constructed so as to shield the motor from the scrapings, the brush being mounted in a compartment of its own in such fashion that if need be it can readily be removed for replacement.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved butcher accessory which can serve not only as a scraper for a butcher block but which can also have mounted thereon a grinding attachment for sharpening knives arranged so that the weight of the device is utilized to hold the grinder steady during its operation, the shaft for the brush moreover being so arranged that the grinder wheel can be attached directly to it so as to be operated thereby.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the' accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the device show ing the grinding wheel mounted thereon for operation.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the device with the grinding wheel in place but with the stand for the grinding wheel cut away so that the location and construction of the cleaner brush can be viewed.

Figure 3 is a cross-section view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigureB.

Although the device is shown with the grinding wheel atnitcd States Patent tached so that all of the parts which contribute to the success of the invention may be shown and described, it can readily be appreciated that the device is readily manipulatable for its basic purpose by merely removing the grinding wheel attachment.

As shown in the drawings the device is housed within a casing 10 so that there is formed a front wall 11 and a rear wall 12. A side wall 13 lies along one side of the device and a side wall 14 along the other side. Screws 15 at the front and rear walls secure the inwardly bent portions 16 and 17 of the side walls thereto.

The casing provides a substantially large interior brush chamber 18 at one end and motor chamber 19 at the other end.

The motive power is substantially conventional and is supplied by an electric motor housed within a separate motor housing 20 which completely conceals the motor. A motor shaft 21 is visible in Figure 1 indicating. the motor shaft to lie horizontally in a transverse position across the casing 10 adjacent the rear wall 12. Vent apertures 22 extend through the casing to provide ventilation for the motor during operation.

Within the forward portion of the casing and within the brush chamber 18 is mounted a wire brush 23. For mounting the brush there is provided a brush shaft 24 mounted on a bearing 25 contained within a bushing 25' in the side wall 13. A similar bearing 26 on the other end of the shaft is mounted ina bushing 26' supported on an intermediate wall 27. The intermediate wall 27 can be a portion of the motor housing 20 bent in a forwardly extending direction.

The wire brush 23 is held between keepers 28 and 29 secured to the brush shaft 24 at an enlarged portion 36 which is threaded substantially throughout its length.

A portion 31 of the shaft extends through the bearing 26 and the intermediate wall 27 a substantial distance terminating adjacent the side wall 14. The free end of the portion 31 terminates in a reduced portion 31 in which is a pin 32 designed to cooperate with an abrasive or grinding wheel accessory.

The drive for the wire brush consists of a drive pulley 33 within the motor housing which in turn is connected by a V belt 34 to a driven pulley 35 keyed by a key 36 to the portion 31 of the brush shaft 24. The motor rotates the brush 18 so that the bristles at the bottom move forward. Moreover the brush is located in an entirely separate chamber from the motor, housed within the motor housing 20, so that particles tossed about in the brush chamber by rapid rotation of the brush donot foul the motor.

A handle 37 is located adjacent the rear wall 12 pitched on a slant for natural and convenient gripping, the handle being attached to the casing 10 by screws or rivets 38.

A second handle orhandhold 39 also is attached to the top of the casing adjacent the forward wall 11.

The grinding wheel or abrasive attachment consists of a stand 41 having a horizontal base 42 with a vertical portion or leg 43 on the end adjacent the side wall 13. At the other end of the stand 4-1 there is provided a protecting shield 44 within which is mounted a grinding wheel 45. There is provided a cut-out portion 46 in the protecting shield to give access to the grinding wheel, for grinding a butchersknife for example.

To firmly mount the grinding wheel 45 in the protecting shield, the wheel is provided with a relatively heavy shaft 46 contained rotatably within a bearing 47 secured within a bushing 48 in a side wall 49 of the shield. The shaft 46 is anchored within the hearing by use of a nut 50 drawing against a flange 51 forming a portion of the shaft 46.

A washer 52 is adapted to bear against the inside face of the grinding wheel and is anchored in place by a nut 53.

At the same end of the shaft 46 as the nut 53 there is provided a recess 54 having a diameter sufficiently large to receive the reduced portion 31 of the brush shaft 24. A wall 56 surrounding the aperture 54 contains slots 57 adapted to receive the ends of the pin 32. By this means the grinding Wheel shaft 46 and grinding wheel 45 may be non-rotatably fixed upon the brush shaft and made to rotate with the brush shaft. it will be noted that the stand 41 is very easily attached to the casing 14 by use of two screws 58 which extend into the side wall 13 and screws 59 which secure a plate 66 attached to the shield being fastened to the side wall 14. A bottom opening recess 61 is provided to permit the grinding wheel shaft 46 to be slid up into position where it can engage the reduced portion 31 of the brush shaft.

When the device is being manipulated as a scraper the stand is entirely removed. The casing then rests with a heel 63 bearing directly upon whatever the surface may be to be cleaned. Such surface may be the top surface of a butcher cutting block. At the other end the device will rest directly upon the bristles of the wire brush 23. The device will thus be supported at two points, namely, the bristles and the heel 63. A lower edge 64 on each side wall may be cut upwardly to a slight degree so that the brush bristles protrude below it.

Thus mounted a substantial portion though not all of the weight of the device will be upon the bristles. In this position the device can be set in operation and manipulated over the surface to be cleaned. Should the entire pressure of the weight of the casing not be needed, the casing can be tilted upwardly about the heel 63 as a lever so that less pressure will be applied upon the bristles where less pressure is sufficient. To ease the tilting operation as just suggested or to apply more pressure on the bristles, the other hand of the operator can be used to grasp the handhold 39 to elevate it or press it down- Wardly as occasion may require.

When the device is to be used with the grinding attachment in place the attachment is applied from the bottom passing the grinding Wheel shaft upwardly through the recess 61 and manipulating it so that the slots 57 engage the pin 32. Once in position the screws 58 and 59 may be applied to securely fasten the stand 41 in place, the stand serving as a rest for the apparatus as Mounted in that fashion viewed in Figures 1 and 3. the weight of the forward end of the casing plus the weight of the grinding attachment serves to hold the entire device in position while the grinding wheel is rotated through the brush shaft.

On those occasions where it might become advisable to remove the wire brush 23 for cleaning or replacement the bushings 25 and 26' may be entirely removed.

It will be noted that there is a slot 66 in the wall 27 opening obliquely downwardly. A similar slot 67 in a plate 68 on the side wall 13 also opens obliquely downwardly. These slots are wide enough to fit a groove 69 in the respective bushings so that the bushings can slide into and out of the slots. To hold the bushings in the slots a screw '70 is provided fitting into a boss 71 on the wall 27 A similar screw 72. fits in a boss 74 on the plate 68. When it is desired to remove the brush the screws 70 and 72 are withdrawn and the brush shaft bushings are readily slid out of the slot 66 and 67 carrying with them the shaft 30 and wire brush. The brush can be removed from the shaft 24 for replacement by the simple expedient of removing the keeper 28.

There has thus been described an effective block cleaner or scraper so constructed that the weight of the device is utilizable to press the scraper into scraping position, the entire device being so constructed that it can be used alternatively as a grinding wheel.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A portable butchers accessory comprising a casing having a top, side walls, end walls and an open bottom providing a space therein, an electric motor mounted at one end of the casing with the shaft thereof horizontal and extending between the side walls and a housing in said space enveloping said motor, a plate parallel and proximate to one side wall and spaced inwardly therefrom and extending from said motor housing in a direction toward that end of the casing opposite said one end, a brush shaft at the end of the casing remote from the motor and having opposite ends of the brush shaft mounted respectively on said plate and on the side wall remote from the plate, means drivingly connecting said brush shaft to the shaft of the motor, and a wire brush on said brush shaft having the outer circumference of the brush extending to a level below the lower edges of said walls, and manual means on said casing whereby the casing is adapted to be tilted upwardly and downwardly about the lower edge of the end wall remote from the brush, said one side wall having an aperture therein, a coupling part on the brush shaft between the plate and the said one side wall, a removable stand comprising a leg secured to said remote side wall, a wheel housing secured to the said one side wall, and an abrasive wheel and a wheel shaft therefor mounted within the Wheel housing with the axis thereof in axial alignment with the brush shaft axis, said wheel shaft having a coupling part at the inside end thereof and forming with the coupling part on the brush shaft an endwise releasable coupling connecting said brush shaft and said wheel shaft.

2. A portable butchers accessory comprising a casing having a top, side walls, end walls and an open bottom, an electric motor mounted at one end of the casing with the shaft thereof horizontal and extending between the side walls and a housing enveloping said motor, a plate parallel and proximate to one side wall and spaced inwardly therefrom and extending from said motor housing in a direction toward that end of the casing opposite said one end, a brush shaft having opposite ends thereof mounted respectively on said plate and on the side wall remote from the plate, means drivingly connecting the brush shaft to the shaft of the motor, and a wire brush on said brush shaft having the outer circumference of the brush extending to a level below the lower edges of said walls, handles on said casing whereby the casing is adapted to be tilted upwardly and downwardly about the lower edge of the end wall remote from the brush, Said one side wall having an aperture therein to provide access to the brush shaft, a coupling part on that end of the brush shaft adjacent the plate, a stand comprising a horizontal portion adapted to extend beneath the brush, a leg at one end of the stand adapted to be secured to said remote side wall, a wheel housing at the other .id of the stand adapted to be secured to said one side wall, and an abrasive wheel and a wheel shaft therefor mounted within the wheel housing and on said stand with the axis of the wheel shaft in axial alignment with the brush shaft axis, and an endwise releasable coupling part on the Wheel shaft connecting said brush shaft and said Wheel shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,284,640 Fox Nov. 12, 1918 1,430,033 Smerschnik Sept. 26,. 1922 1,991,794 Cutright Feb. 19, 1935 2,101,394 Johnson Dec. 7, 1937 2,649,597 Dullinger Aug. 25, 1953 

